[valr]

If eggs were being stolen would you see evidence of it or do they fly off with them whole?!/! V alarming  .. loads of magpies and big black buggers ( no idea what species) have taken to lurking around my chickens .. (

[doganjo]

They peck a little hole then lift the whole thing, Val.

[Roxy]

Saw a magpie yesterday sitting on the pen roof watching my little bantam chicks.  It would have lifted one, given the chance.  Thats why they are all in runs until they are big enough to be safe from the birds.  We had some in the barn once, it broke my heart when I saw a crow flying off  with a chick in its claws.  It had swooped down and grabbed it.  Although the door was closed, I had forgotten the high pickinig hole for the hay was open.  How the crow knew the chicks were there I don't know.  Maybe it heard the cheeping.

[adaskins]

Well, all our eggs went missing today even the ones under the broody hens, not a trace left behind.  It was done during the night tho and the hens are locked in a stable at night, there are holes in the stable walls, never seen a rat here in many years and our jack russel has a mouse or a mole on the doorstep every morning so sure there would be a rat there if any were about, any ideas anyone?!  Cheers

[Roxy]

I would still say its rats.I know we have some under one of the sheds, and the cats cannot get under to catch them.  Every so often I put down a lot of poison - well out of reach of the cats etc. - and clear them all out.  It costs a fortune, as they eat nearly a full large tub, before they are all sorted.

[valr]

I am horrified to learn crows steal chicks!!!

[Frieslandfilly]

Strange this as I was just about to post on something similar! Our hens have dropped off egg production and begun eating thier eggs, also, egg shape,hardeness of shell and size are irregular I thought it was just bad luck but two different nieghbours have come to me separately to say that the exact same thing is happening to thiers!! My only suggestion is that there must be something lacking in the ground, probably due to the bad winter we had, I have reintroduced poultry spice and battles poultry liquid on altenate weeks, this seems to have improved the egg shells and shape, they always have grit available so I know its not that, also they are in a large paddock and moved regularly so it is not that either. Its odd that it is happening widescale.

[Lavinia]

Hiya just put this up on a different thread. We have had a drop from about 30 a day to 11 a day. Can't find a reason girls lay in a stone brick stable with only one way in and out, will have watch out today for crows etc, Never thought about crows doing that........

Lavinia

[plumseverywhere]

I've just had to tell my regular wednesday dozen customer that I'll have to give him half wed and half thurs!! we haven't eaten an egg ourselves for weeks because they've either gone all weird and broken or they've been sold to our regulars who I don't want to let down.
numbers have declined by about 25% here 

[sheila]

I am having the same problem with my girls. The trouble is that I can't tell who is laying and whose not, nor who is laying the shell less egg that I find every morning. What is this liquid that has been mentioned?

[Frieslandfilly]

The liquid is Battles poultry liquid, you should find it at your local countrywide shop etc, It contains minerals like copper and magnesium etc, the poultry spice is the same sort of thing but I always find that with the spice even if you mix it with the feed a lot is left in the bottom of the bucket and does not coat the grain or pellets very well. The liquid goes into thier drinking water so you know they are definately getting it. I would say it is having the desired effect as today I picked up 7 eggs from 14 birds where last week I was only getting 1 or 2 not to mention that there is improvement in the egg shape and shell.

[little blue]

The liquid goes into thier drinking water so you know they are definately getting it.

.... except our little b**gers who refuse to drink for days!!

[nug]

Did i hear water pistol, God bless America, take my pump action 12 gauge & have lots of fun & my short haired pointer molly loves em, squirrels tooo.

[TheCaptain]

Hello Troops,

just wondering if your egg laying has returned to normal yet?

Captain

[Roxy]

Yes, about two weeks ago, things picked up ......and we are getting plenty of eggs. Unfortunately, on the days I work, the magpies or crows sneak in, and we end up with two or three pecked eggs.  Someone said to me, they thought it was all the hot weather, put the hens off lay?  Seems strange that so many of us, had no eggs at the same time, so maybe thats right then.